Details of the Pensacola Aviation Center Mil Comp Commercial Certificate testing process
The Federal Aviation Administration records indicate there are more than 675,000 licensed pilots in the United States. The bureaucracy required to manage the records of such a group is immense. The record keeping must be absolutely accurate and timely. That data must be very closely controlled at the point of initial entry, as well as following entries. The individual applicant doing the data entry must understand the proper procedure, or his/her records are subject to a very cumbersome and time consuming correction process. Consequently the data entry process requires education and guidance.
Part of the cost of the Pensacola Aviation Center Military Competency package is supervision of the computerized application process. We have a flight instructor on staff that is very familiar with the process to assist our customers. However the utilization of his training and knowledge is not free.
The October 20, 2009 rule change has generated more opportunity for the military qualified aviator. Consequently the number of applicants has increased dramatically. The past method of achieving the military competency certificates has saturated the PAC admin staff. More staff is required to accommodate the increase in numbers and the data entry/record keeping.
Administration costs money. Reluctantly we are forced to raise the price of our package to $300. We get it all done in 2 visits to our facility at Pensacola Regional Airport. What do you get for your hard earned money?
- You have gotten to this page so print it out. Click on the milcomp registration form on this web page. Start at the next available line and fill in the blanks. That line number will be your sequence number for the testing process. The test can be taken on any day the testing center is operating. You do not have to be winged in order to take the seminar and test. You do have to be winged in order to receive your certificate. Taking the seminar is not a requirement however it increases your chances of passing the test tremendously. Most people take the seminar and test 1 to 2 months before their estimated winging date.
- Show up at our facility at 0700 on the prearranged Saturday morning. Not the morning after a well deserved vigorous winging party (bad idea).
- Verify the registration information and present $275 in the form of cash, credit card, or a check made out to PAC. $150 of that goes to the FAA authorized vendor that handles the test (PAC uses LaserGrade). $125 goes to the presentation of the seminar and the administration required to complete the application process. The remaining $75 that makes up the $300 total goes to the examiner on the second visit to PAC. A minimum of 2 days is required for the FAA to verify the results of your test before the examiner can verify all documentation and issue a temporary certificate. This mandatory waiting period forces a second visit to PAC no less than 2 days following the date you took your test.
- Following registration, Skip Giles gives a 2 to 2.5 hour seminar on FAA regulations. Skip teaches the material, not the test. Sample test questions are used during this seminar.
- Following the seminar testing begins in sign up order sequence. If you have a sim session that afternoon, sign up for the seminar early in order to get a lower sequence number.
- The test is a 50 question test on FAA regulations. The average time to take the test is about 25 minutes.
- There are 4 test stations. While waiting to take the test or immediately upon completion of the test meet with the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) auditor in the main conference room.
- There are 4 computers in the main conference room. The auditor will guide you through the IACRA application process step by step. The filling out of the IACRA forms is very detailed and must be accurate. Inattention to detail during this step has caused major delays and problems in the application process.
- We have a very low failure rate. Most failures are caused by too much partying the night before. Should a failure occur, the applicant must get training on the failed subjects and signed off by a CFI. We will do that here, however the test cannot be retaken until 2 days following the failure. Also another $100 testing fee is required.
- Typically; a pilot who completed his/her training program at NAS Whiting Field is eligible for Airplane Single Engine Land which is based on the T-34 of T-6 and Rotorcraft-Helicopter; Instrument Helicopter which is based on the TH-57. Unfortunately the instrument is usually limited to the helicopter.
Where to Go:
Pensacola Aviation Center
4145 Jerry L. Maygarden Rd.
Pensacola FL 32504
Required documentation:
For Testing:
Current Photo ID, preferably your driver license.
For IACRA Auditor:
Military Flight Log Book
Military ID
FAA 3rd class medical/student pilot certificate (if you have one)
FAA Private Pilot Rating (if you have one)
Second appearance at PAC to meet with FAA Mil-Comp Examiner (after you have been winged):
Military Flight Log Book
*Certificate of Designation
*Standard Designation
Military ID
If you have any questions please call:
Kathleen or Shannon at 850-434-0636 x2
